Chatoyant Pounamu Piwakawaka – Fantail

This stone has some cool parallel grain running through it.  It is designed as a Piwakawaka/Fantail.  (The tail part).

A piwakawaka will always being flittering around people who are walking in the bush.  If feels like they are there looking after you or protecting you so this piece if for someone like that. This piece was made for and given to a special woman in my life.


It is a styalised, symbolic representation of the piwakawaka tail feathers when they are spread.

 In reality the little piwakawaka is just hungry and is swooping around the people walking, eating all the little insects that have flown up from the leaf litter that has been disturbed.

 When Jade is formed deep underground with heat and pressure the mineral strands making it are felted like wool can be, all mixed together in lots of different directions.  Sometimes when these microscopic strands are aligned parallel that kind of shimmer.  This stone has some of this effect, it is called chatoyancy

This is a really good example of a piece of Jade with a lot of obvious chatoyancy.  Here is another example of chatoyant Jade.

Similar Posts

  • |

    Rangatiratang Hoi

    This is a hoi a made for a previous colleague that has just left the school we worked at together. The hoi is very appropriate and symbolic for the campus he worked at. They use a metaphor of paddling in a waka in how the staff work together as well as for the learning journey…

  • Rau Aroha

    This Pounamu pendant, named Rau Aroha, offers a glimpse into the heart of New Zealand’s artistic heritage. Carved from pipiwharauroa pounamu, this 6cm free-form piece captures attention with its subtle interplay with light. Rau Aroha translates to ‘leaf of love,’ mirroring the pendant’s natural silhouette and the warm intentions behind its creation and gifting. Unlike…

  • Maramatanga Ruru

    The ruru, or morepork, holds a special place in the heart of Aotearoa’s natural world. As a nocturnal guardian, it embodies wisdom, intuition, and the mysteries of the night. This small but powerful bird is often associated with protection, guidance, and the ability to see through darkness – qualities embodied in the Māori concept of…